Hey All, This might be a dumb question ;)

I'm a newbie and looking to increase my wind range for freeriding by buying a 12M switchblade. I have a 10M switchblade atm.

If i later decide to give foiling a go, can the 10 and 12M be used for foiling? If not perhaps there is a kite you can recommend that would be good for freeriding and foiling in place of a 12M Switchblade?

I weigh 77kg

Thanks in advance.. Craig

Either kite would be fine for learning foiling but a light, drifting kite like the Airush Ultra will make foiling way easier. For me at 82 kg the 9m Ultra has me foiling at 11-20 knots, which is the broadest (real) range of any single kite I've ever had

I beg to differ. A 5 strut kite will not be fine. In the winds you would use a 12m in (8-12 knots)it simply wont relaunch.
You really want 3 struts or less for foiling. PS your most used kite would be a 8m when foiling. So you could end up with your 10-12 switch blade for freeride and 8,6m for foiling.

3 struts or less
my 8m is single strut and has me foiling in wind on verge of too light to relaunch.
so as Plummet said save the big kites for TT or SB
and get a single or no strut foiling Lei for the HF
once you get down to 5m sizes the wind is up enough that weight isn't an issue.

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Millsey said..
Hey All, This might be a dumb question ;)

I'm a newbie and looking to increase my wind range for freeriding by buying a 12M switchblade. I have a 10M switchblade atm.

If i later decide to give foiling a go, can the 10 and 12M be used for foiling? If not perhaps there is a kite you can recommend that would be good for freeriding and foiling in place of a 12M Switchblade?

I weigh 77kg

Thanks in advance.. Craig

Hi Craig,

5 struts kites are heavy and not ideal for anything below 18 knots. I had a student coming for her first hydrofoil lesson a few days ago in winds of about 15 to 18 knots and we used her switchblade. At the start of the lesson (15 knots) the kite was stalling a lot and she had difficulty relaunching it even with 13 years kitesurfing experience. Later in the session in 18 knots it was a lot easier.

Single strut kites are a huge advantage in lighter winds, especially if you don't have excellent kite control and/or excellent light wind flying skills.

So if you don't plan to foil in winds below 18 knots then your kites will do fine. However in 15 knots or less you may find it very difficult with a heavy 5 strut kite.

I used to foil in sub 10 knots with a 5 strut 12m kite without any worries, but I have vast experience in marginal wind kite control and that's not a very common skill for most kitesurfers to have



Single strut kites like the Airush Ultra will make your life a lot easier.

Christian

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cbulota said..

Millsey said..
Hey All, This might be a dumb question ;)

I'm a newbie and looking to increase my wind range for freeriding by buying a 12M switchblade. I have a 10M switchblade atm.

If i later decide to give foiling a go, can the 10 and 12M be used for foiling? If not perhaps there is a kite you can recommend that would be good for freeriding and foiling in place of a 12M Switchblade?

I weigh 77kg

Thanks in advance.. Craig

Hi Craig,

5 struts kites are heavy and not ideal for anything below 18 knots. I had a student coming for her first hydrofoil lesson a few days ago in winds of about 15 to 18 knots and we used her switchblade. At the start of the lesson (15 knots) the kite was stalling a lot and she had difficulty relaunching it even with 13 years kitesurfing experience. Later in the session in 18 knots it was a lot easier.

Single strut kites are a huge advantage in lighter winds, especially if you don't have excellent kite control and/or excellent light wind flying skills.

So if you don't plan to foil in winds below 18 knots then your kites will do fine. However in 15 knots or less you may find it very difficult with a heavy 5 strut kite.

I used to foil in sub 10 knots with a 5 strut 12m kite without any worries, but I have vast experience in marginal wind kite control and that's not a very common skill for most kitesurfers to have

Single strut kites like the Airush Ultra will make your life a lot easier.

Christian

Good advice. But why so humble?

Thanks everyone!!! Really helpful advice. The other kite i was advised to get for light wind freefiding is the 15M contra. Is this fairly comparable with the airush ulta for foiling? I know its 3 struts but how different are they?

I think you'll find the contra too big in 15m size for foiling.

Whilst a bit of power can help initially for learning, you'll probably find yourself looking to get rid of the power pretty quickly. Many people manage with 9-10m light weight kites from 10knots up once they have nailed the foil board control.

I gather its a nice kite for a twin tip though.

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Millsey said..
Thanks everyone!!! Really helpful advice. The other kite i was advised to get for light wind freefiding is the 15M contra. Is this fairly comparable with the airush ulta for foiling? I know its 3 struts but how different are they?

The problem you will have with a 15m kite, is once you get up on your foil in say 10 knots, you will be quickly moving at 15 knots. If you are reaching or heading upwind, the apparent wind generated is suddenly 15+ knots and you very quickly become over-powered.

You have to find a balance between the kite you need to get up on the foil and the kite you need once on the foil. The bigger you are, the more problematic this can be (longer lines made a huge difference for me in bridging the gap).

My biggest kite for foiling is a 9m (C2 cloud) and I'm starting to get overpowered on it at 15 knots. I can get going on it in about 9 knots. My old 8m Catalyst (2011- much less grunty than all versions since) is my next down foiling kite - gets me going in about 13 knots and comfy up to 18). Then I go to a 2014 5.5m drifter. I'm 80kg.

I'd say buy your 12m swithchblade now for more range and time on water with a twintip then as you progress and then if you want to foil, move to a smaller wave kite (8 or 9m) as your first foiling kite. You'll find it ideal for learning in 15-20knots then rapidly want something smaller as your skills build. But that's still a ways into the future. For now, whatever will get you on the water on your twinnie.

I'm 78 kg and been foiling 50+ hours. I'm still a beginner, but close to intermediate.
I'm using North Mono 12-9-7 and use them all. The 12 gets a lot of use. All of them fly and stay in the air even if there is not enough wind to get up and foil.
My 5 strut kites will be stalling and hindenburging in this situation. I' m in the process of selling them off, because the monos work great on surfboard and foil

Awesome. Thanks everyone!!! 12m it is!